and pack some bags,” Josh said.
“I’ll help you.” Brooke hurried after him.
Maverick followed them to the ranch. “Do you need some boxes?”
“Yeah. We can haul more stuff over later in the truck. I just want to get most of my clothes.”
“The ranch is nice and spacious. You won’t miss living here, will you?” Brooke started to pull clothes out of Josh’s drawers while he began to grab the clothes hanging in the closet.
“No. We have four thousand acres—”
“And my thousand acres bordering your land,” Brooke added.
“Uh, right.” Josh smiled. “If we ever decide to, we can build our own ranch house out here. Otherwise, I’m fine with living in town. We might come out to the ranch to enjoy the wide-open spaces during the days when the shop is closed, once we deal with whoever is trying to steal from you. Or at night to go running as wolves. The land and everything on it is ours, too, even though I’m moving in with you. There’s a guesthouse on the ranch we can use if you don’t want to build a larger home of our own. That way, when Maverick finds a mate of his own, he can have the house.”
“That sounds like a good deal. I’m so thrilled we’ll be able to run at either ranch. I love the river running through your property and the forested land. It’s perfect for exploring as wolves. Do you harvest the Christmas trees?”
“We lease the land to another wolf who grows the Christmas trees and sells them. It’s the perfect setup for all of us. We use the Christmas trees for a backdrop for promotional pictures of the reindeer, and for tour groups, we have a photo op with visitors petting a reindeer while standing in front of the Christmas trees.”
Maverick brought in some boxes and began packing them with clothes.
“That’s really neat.”
“Whatever we can’t fit in the car, we can get later,” Josh said. “When we have time, I can’t wait to take you all over the property, running as wolves to see the sights, Brooke. Anytime you want to go running with us, you can, too, Maverick.”
“Thanks, I’d like that,” Brooke said, and Maverick agreed.
They began loading the bags and boxes into the car, and when the trunk and back seat were filled to capacity, they said good night to Maverick. “I’ll send you a list of signs I’d like made.”
“Sounds good to me. Congratulations, you two. We’ll have to have a celebration for your mating. The other was really for your selling the vases.”
“I was thinking we could do it with you and Adam one night. I’ll fix a prime-rib dinner for all of you,” Brooke said.
“That’s a deal,” Maverick said. “Let me know if I need to do anything to help out, either with the business or with the protection.”
“We sure will,” Josh said. “Hopefully, we’ll be okay. Adam’s going to continue to stay with us at night, sleeping at the shop until we know for sure who’s behind the men trying to rob her.”
They each gave Maverick a hug, then got into the loaded-down car.
* * *
They finally reached home and drove into the garage. They thanked the police officer for watching the place. He was the same cop who had hung up on Brooke when she’d called about the reindeer calf, so she figured he was trying to make it up to her.
“’Night, folks,” he said. “It’s been quiet.”
“Thanks so much,” Brooke said. “I really appreciate it.”
Then they said good night to the officer, and when he drove off, Josh lifted Brooke in his arms and carried her across the threshold into the house, locked the door, and hurried to the security alarm to turn it off.
A knock on the back door sounded. “It must be Adam,” Josh said, sighing. He deposited Brooke on the bed in the master bedroom. “I’ll be right back.” Josh was certain it had to be important, or Adam wouldn’t be bothering them.
“Take your gun, just in case.”
“I’ve got it.” Josh headed for the back door, peeked out, and shook his head. He opened the door. “You know what you’re interrupting, right?”
“Sorry. I talked with the patrol officer who was watching the shop on his rounds, and he said everything was fine. I’m retiring for the night, but I want to interrogate the robbers at the station in the morning,” Adam said.
“I agree. ’Night, Adam, and thanks.”
“No problem. See you in the morning.”
Josh went into the house and locked the door,